We support and check reporting entities comply with their obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (the Act).
As Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regulator we regulate more than 19,000 reporting entities. We do this to protect them and the financial sector from criminal abuse.
Who we regulate
Industries and businesses we regulate are:
- banks
- casinos
- individual remitters
- pubs, clubs and bookmakers
- remittance network providers
- superannuation providers
- virtual asset providers.
From 1 July 2026, we’ll also expand our regulation into new industries that are recognised as high-risk for criminal exploitation. This includes certain designated services that are typically provided by the following businesses (tranche 2 entities):
- real estate professionals
- dealers in precious stones, metals and products
- lawyers
- conveyancers
- accountants
- trust and company service providers.
Reporting entity obligations
Reporting entities need to meet their AML/CTF obligations. These include implementing AML/CTF controls and reporting financial transactions and suspicious activity to us.
Learn more about obligations for reporting entities.
Regulatory activities
We support and check reporting entities meet their obligations through regulatory activities. These include:
- identifying new and emerging risks
- identifying and collecting data for regulatory insights
- using regulatory insights and financial intelligence to:
- assess industry vulnerabilities
- assess threats to Australia’s financial sector
- working with industry to improve risk management
- educating industry on risks and compliance
- supporting national security and law enforcement operations
- taking a risk-based approach to interventions against non-compliant reporting entities
- taking enforcement action against reporting entities for serious and systemic breaches of the Act.
Detecting, deterring and disrupting organised crime
Watch the video to see how our regulatory activities protect Australians from criminals and terrorists.
More information
For more information about our regulatory function please view:
This guidance sets out how we interpret certain Australian legislation, along with associated Rules and regulations. Australian courts are ultimately responsible for interpreting these laws and determining if any provisions of these laws are contravened.
The examples and scenarios in this guidance are meant to help explain our interpretation of these laws. They’re not exhaustive or meant to cover every possible scenario.
This guidance provides general information and isn't a substitute for legal advice. This guidance avoids legal language wherever possible and it might include generalisations about the application of the law. Some provisions of the law referred to have exceptions or important qualifications. In most cases your particular circumstances must be taken into account when determining how the law applies to you.